Late Results from Denver

Jim ‘Smitty’ Smith and Poor Boys Pro Boxing in association with the Colorado chapter of NAIOP, president Chris King, put on a ‘Fight Night’ charity event on Thursday night with six good bouts. Hugo Arceo beat Rudy Zapata by split decision while Victoria Robinson and Alma Garcia put on the ‘Fight of the Night’ and took home nice trophies for their effort.

Heavyweight Hugo Arceo settled the score with Rudy Zapata winning a well-deserved split decision victory. The two fought back in June and that bout ended in a hotly disputed draw where most, including RMB/FightNews, felt Zapata deserved the nod.

Zapata comes to the ring with a badly swollen left eye and Arceo used his jab to further the damage, early and often. Zapata uses his fast hands to land jabs and hard counter left hooks. Arceo bloodies Zapata’s nose with a right hand late in the round but Zapata’s work rate and accuracy carry the round. In the second Zapata fights off the ropes and lands his counter left hook most every time Arceo lets his right hand go. Arceo begins to make the adjustment of locking his right hand to his head in defense. Zapata lands a left hook low and referee Curtis Thrasher warns him, they touch gloves and the round ends, another in the bag for Zapata.

Arceo comes to life in the third applying pressure behind his jab and catching the counter left hooks. Zapata winds up his right hand and lands a nice left hook and jab. Arceo is becoming more and more aggressive and bangs away at the midsection and head of Zapata who is content to lay in the ropes as he begins to fade a bit. Arceo wins his first round of the fight and has blood now pouring from his opponent’s nose. Arceo continues with the jab splitting the high guard in the fourth. Zapata dips and throws a hard left hook to the body. Zapata can make the fight easy if he holds the center of the ring but he is losing steam and spends more time in the ropes where Arceo bangs away to the body and head, many missing or being caught but plenty are landing as well.

In the fifth and final round Zapata misses badly with a wild left hook and nearly falls down. Arceo pushes him to the ropes and goes to work. Arceo isn’t flashy but he is consistent and his work rate wins him the round and the fight, 48-47 on the RMB/FightNews scorecard.

Judge Tyrone Short scores it 48-47 for Zapata but he is over ruled by Woody Kislowski and Rob Mullings who have it 48-47 for Arceo. Hugo Arceo stays unbeaten at 4-0-1, 3KOs while Rudy Zapata, 2-1-1, 1KO, loses his ‘0’.

Rodriguez Outworks Quezada

Jr. lightweights Armando Rodriguez and Martin Quezada closed the show with a four round bout that gained steam after a slow opening round. Each man is trying to gauge the others speed and reach and both are tentative to mix it up in a very even round. In the second Rodriguez begins to find the mark for his jab and he follows with the right hand. Quezada is letting his hands go but not landing very many shots. Rodriguez is using flurries to score points. They are not hard punches but they are effective as Rodriguez wins the round on the RMB/FightNews card. Quezada starts moving and jabbing in the third with Rodriguez stalking him, pushing the action. Rodriguez makes an effort to go to the body of his tall and lanky opponent and has good success. Quezada is not punching and goes on the defensive. Rodriguez lands a clubbing right hand to the head that punctuates another round.

Quezada is firing away this round as his corner has told him that he must score the knock out to win the fight. Rodriguez weathers the early storm and then forces him to the ropes where he lands hard shots to the body. Quezada lands a nice lead uppercut but Rodriguez hooks off his jab to finish the fight.

Rodriguez wins moving his record to 2-1, while Quezada continues to slide with his sixth loss in a row at 2-7, 2KOs.

Robinson and Garcia Put On The ‘Fight of the Night’

Victoria Robinson and Alma Garcia put on a slugfest that had fans on their feet for the entirety of the fight. Robinson, who is trained by former contender Donald Camarena, showed her skills while Garcia showed her grit and the result was the ‘Fight of the Night’ for which both women took home nice trophies for their effort.

Robinson controls the first round with her jab and straight right hand. Garcia is coming forward and trying to land heavy leather but Robinson uses footwork to move out of harm’s way. Robinson opens up in the second round dominating the round with combinations to the head. She follows it up with a nice left hook to the body and right cross to the head. By the third Garcia is slowing down and showing the effects of the punches she has taken. A straight right hand from Robinson makes Garcia stumble. Another right hand left hook and Garcia goes down. Somehow she makes it to her feet and the round ends.

It’s more target practice for Robinson in the fourth round as referee Tom Johnson takes a close look at stepping in. After a few more hard shots ‘Smitty’, Jim Smith, throws in the towel, mercifully, from Garcia’s corner and it’s over at the :50 second mark.

Robinson debuts at 1-0, 1KO and Garcia opens at 0-1.

Lanzas Outlands Straus

Julio Lanzas used a busy jab and high guard to outland and out point Katrell Straus over four rounds at super middleweight. In the opening round both fighters are very wild early before settling down. Straus gets his jab going and lands some decent punches. Straus switches from orthodox to southpaw but with no real purpose. Lanzas lands a hard right hand at round’s end but it’s too little too late. In the second Lanzas begins to take over with his work rate. He goes to the body and Straus quickly shows the effects. Lanzas is mixing it up well going to the body and head.

The third and fourth rounds bring more of the same as Straus continues to fade and Lanzas stays busy. Lanzas has a small mouse under his left eye but he continues to punch and land. Straus tries to fight back but with little effect.

Pablo Gomez used some new found defense and up jab to outwork Cristian Bonilla over four rounds at cruiserweight. Bonilla does well to get Gomez to the ropes early but Gomez is countering nicely. Bonilla lands a right hand but Gomez is moving and jabbing with good effect. He also drops in the occasional right hand for good measure. Bonilla begins the second being aggressive and landing some hard shots. Gomez is looking to counter. Gomez doesn’t move as much and Bonilla takes advantage to win the round.

Gomez starts using movement and the jab to keep Bonilla off balance and slow his attack in the third. Bonilla pushes him to the ropes but Gomez lands a nice left right hook combo that back Bonilla off. Bonilla lands a big right hook to the head but Gomez fights back and gets the best of the exchange and round. In the fourth both men look tired and slow down considerably as the bout gets a bit sloppy. Bonilla lands an uppercut and left hook inside. Gomez fires back with a 1-2. Gomez wins the round and fight on the RMB/FightNews scorecard, 39-37. Judges ringside agree awarding Gomez the decision win.

Gomez pulls to .500 at 4-4-1, 2KOs and Bonilla loses his debut to begin 0-1.

Lopez Pounds Madden

Eligio Lopez got little resistance from Ryan Madden as he pounded him into submission early in the second round. The first round was all Lopez as he lands a right cross and double left hook to the body and Madden goes down. Madden throws a few punches but a left hook produces a big bruise under his right eye. Another left hook puts him down. He gets to feet as the round ends. Lopez lands a 1-2 combo and Madden sinks to the canvass. He is counted out at 44 seconds of the second round.

Lopez is now 1-0, 1KO while Madden is 0-1.

What a great venue for boxing the Infinity Club offers. Although too small for a large event the round room with a 4 foot video screen that goes around the outside provides a great atmosphere for boxing. The NAIOP should be proud of the event they produced for their members as a great time was had by all.